Topa receives Foster Award

WILKES-BARRE — Justin Topa, Avoca, a senior communication studies student at Wilkes University, received the 2015 Lawrence G. Foster Award for Excellence in Public Relations at the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) national convention held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Topa, a dean’s list student, is completing dual concentrations in organizational communication/public relations and rhetoric with minors in marketing and women’s and gender studies. He is co-chair of the board of Zebra Communications, the student-run public relations agency at Wilkes and president of the Wilkes chapter of PRSSA. He is also co-editor of the life, arts and entertainment section of the Wilkes campus newspaper, The Beacon.

Topa recently completed a marketing and promotions internship with the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. He was chosen a Kirby Scholar with the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at the University. Topa is a graduate of Pittston Area High School and the son of Ellen Topa of Avoca.

Related Video

Five locals begin internships

WILKES-BARRE — Five area residents and King’s College students recently began semester-long internships.

Michael Cipriani, a resident of West Wyoming, is interning with JH Williams & Co., LLP, where he will assist with tax preparations. He is a junior accounting major at King’s.

Andrew Coco, Exeter, is interning with Kovalcheck where he will prepare tax returns for local businesses. He is a senior accounting major at King’s. He is a dean’s list student and a 2015 McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility research grant recipient.

Sarah DeMace, Dupont, is interning with The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development where she conducts research, collects and analyses data, and writes and edits documents. She is a senior professional writing and English literature double major at King’s and a dean’s list student.

Aubrey Gryskiewicz, Wyoming, is completing her internship with eBay Enterprise where she drafts policies and job descriptions and researches recognition programs as well as other human resource topics. She is a senior human resource management major at King’s and a dean’s list student.

Emily Letoski, Exeter, is a copywriting intern for LSEO Marketing where she writes webpage content, ads and promotions, and creates back-links and product instructions for clients. She is a junior professional writing major at King’s where she is a dean’s list student.

Three locals complete service trips

WILKES-BARRE — Three area residents and King’s College students recently participated in a SERVE (Students Engaged in Reflective Volunteer Experiences) trips.

Michael Cipriani, a resident of West Wyoming, recently served as a student coordinator for a trip to The Center for the Homeless in South Bend, Indiana, where he assisted serving meals, participating in the center’s group meetings, and various other projects. He is a junior accounting major at King’s.

Angela Coco, Exeter, recently participated in a SERVE trip to L’Arche in Mobile, Alabama. She is a senior environmental science major at King’s where she is a dean’s list student. Coco is a member of the Environmental Club, the Blood Council, and the Student Alumni Association. She is also a photographer for The Crown, the student-run newspaper, and Regis, the college’s yearbook.

Miranda Warunek, Yatesville, also completed a service trip to L’Arche in Mobile, Alabama. She is a junior in the physician assistant program at King’s and a dean’s list student. Warunek is a member of the King’s tennis team, Pre-Physician Assistant Society, Circle K Club, the Student Social Justice Leadership Project, and is an FYE co-leader.

Students named to dean’s list

BALTIMORE, Md. — Four local students were recently named to Loyola University Maryland’s dean’s list for a grade-point average of 3.5 or greater for the term.

The students are as follows: Terrence Donnelly, a member of the class of 2016 from West Pittston; Julie Langan, a member of the class of 2016 from Pittston; Michael Voitek, a member of the class of 2017 from Exeter; and Zachary Voitek, a member of the class of 2019 from West Pittston.

Williams, Fay named to dean’s list

PHILADELPHIA — Samantha Williams, Hughestown, and Cailtin Fay, Duryea, were named to the dean’s list at The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Selection for this award is based on completing and passing all assigned courses with no grade below a “C” and attaining an academic average of at least 3.4 for courses taken in the fall of 2015.

Williams is a physician assistant studies student and Fay is a doctor of pharmacy student.

Werbin earns dean’s list

TROY, N.Y. — West Pittston resident Eric Werbin was recently named to the fall 2015 dean’s list at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The dean’s list recognizes full-time students who maintain grade-point averages of a minimum of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 and have no grades below “C.” Werbin studies cognitive science.

Gestl named to dean’s list

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Pittston resident Alia Gestl was named to the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the fall 2015 semester. Gestl is studying in the game design and development program. Degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for dean’s list if their term GPA is greater than or equal to 3.4.

Spagnuolo, Lee inducted

WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes University freshmen Gabrielle Spagnuolo, Wyoming, and Steven Lee, Duryea, were recently honored for academic excellence with induction into the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society on Feb. 6.

Eligible students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher during their first term or year of college while enrolled full time are invited to join.

Aita, Palochak named to dean’s list

TROY, N.Y. — Angelo Aita, Pittston, and Justin Palovchak, Exeter, were named to the dean’s list at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by maintaining grade-point averages of a minimum of 3.50 and having no grades below a “C.”

Happy birthday wishes

Brian Talipan of Pittston Township celebrates his 20th birthday Sunday, Feb. 28.

James Talipan, Pittston, will celebrate his birthday on Wednesday, March 2.

Births announced

PLAINS TWP. — Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center announce the following newborn:

A boy was born to Amber Falvo and Justin Coletta of Pittston on Feb. 14.

Letoski
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Emily-Letoski.jpg.optimal.jpgLetoski

Coco
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Andrew-Coco.jpg.optimal.jpgCoco

Cipriani
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Michael-Cipriani.jpg.optimal.jpgCipriani

Topa
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Justin-Topa.jpg.optimal.jpgTopa